Have you heard the term ‘hungry ghost’? Coined by the infamous Gabor Mate, the hungry ghost is a symptom of addictive behaviours and relates to an ongoing attempt to fill or cope with an unmet need through addictive behaviour. The issue with the addict’s strategy is that the core need is left unmet, we never feel fulfilled. In our experience, when we removed the core coping mechanism other ones popped up more frequently (cue online shopping and endless gummy bears). This week we talk about some of the emotional motivators and replacement behaviours we have been experiencing in early sobriety. Addictions are not just substances, so if you find yourself endlessly scrolling or unable to stop working this episode is also for you!

Show Mentions:

‘In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts', Gabor Mate

https://www.addictioncenter.com/community/addiction-replacement/

https://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-addiction#motivation